Crop condition was below average at the scale of the Western European MPZ during this reporting period, marked by a strong positive temperature anomaly and continuous dryer-than usual weather conditions in most areas.

Total rainfall across the MPZ (as measured with the RAIN indicator) was 19% below average, resulting from marked negative departures in large parts of the Western European MPZ including most of Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Denmark, central and eastern Italy, north-western Czech Republic, eastern Slovakia, central Austria, and east Hungary. This negative departures also cover most of the Czech Republic, eastern Austria, south-western Slovakia and western-central Hungary from July to late-August, mid-September, early-October to mid-October, and north Italy at mid-August and from mid-September to mid-October. The most severely affected countries were Germany (RAIN, -40%), the Czech Republic (RAIN, -21%), Austria (RAIN, -19%) and France (RAIN, -18%). Exceptional positive RAIN departures were only recorded  in (1) northern Italy from July to early-August, late-August to early-September and late-October, and in (2) western and southern-central Czech Republic, eastern Austria, south-western Slovakia and western-central Hungary in early September, late September and late October. Drought conditions hampered the sowing and emergence of winter crops. Almost all countries will need more rain in the coming weeks to raise soil moisture levels to allow seedbed preparation.

Temperature for the MPZ as a whole was above average (TEMP +1.1°C) and sunshine (RADPAR) was above average with by a very spectacular 8%.A heatwave occurred during late-July and early-August in much of Europe,  with temperature exceeding 30°C, with anomalies in the range of +2°C to +4°C in different regions, for instance in the mid-September in south Spain and in the mid-October in the east of the MPZ. The dry and warm weather shortened the graining filling stage of crops and accelarated the maturity, which reduced yields. 

Due to continuous drought and heatwaves, the biomass accumulation potential BIOMSS was 7% below the recent five-year average.The lowest departures  (-20% and less) occurred in most of Germany, northern France, western Czech Republic, western Spain, eastern United Kingdom, western Austria, and eastern Hungary. In contrast, BIOMSS was above average (sometimes exceeding a 10% departure) over south-western France, northern and eastern Italy, and eastern Spain.

The average maximum VCI for the MPZ reached a value of 0.77 during this reporting period, indicating unfavorable crop condition. More than 92% of arable lands were cropped, which is 2% above the recent five-year average. Most uncropped arable land was concentrated in Spain, central France and south-eastern Italy. Cropping intensity (112%) was down 8% compared with the five-year-average across the MPZ.

Generally, the condition of summer crops in the MPZ was below average, and more rain will be needed to ensure an adequate soil moisture supply for the ongoing winter crop season. 

Figure 2.5a. Western Europe MPZ spatial distribution of rainfall profiles (left) and profiles of rainfall departure from average (mm) (right), July-October 2018

Figure 2.5b. Western Europe MPZ spatial distribution of temperature profiles (left) and profiles of temperature departure from average (℃) (right), July-October 2018

Figure 2.5c. Western Europe MPZ maximum VCI, July-October 2018

Figure 2.5d. Western Europe MPZ cropped and uncropped arable land, July-October 2018

Figure 2.5e. Western Europe MPZ biomass accumulation potential departure, July-October 2018

Figure 2.5f. Western Europe MPZ VHI minimum, July-October 2018

Figure 2.5g. Western Europe MPZ cropping intensity, November 2017-October, 2018